OM-108
In 2023 Suzuki celebrated its 70th anniversary. What better way to mark it than by revisiting a few of the company's most popular musical instruments—including the Omnichord? The anniversary deadline slipped, but the OM-108 made its public debut on 25 January 2024 at the NAMM Show in the USA.
Read our full hands-on Omnichord OM-108 review.
OM-108 owner manual
Read the searchable HTML owner manual online, or download the original PDF from the Omnichord Heaven owners guide archive.
A reimagined Omnichord
Rather than produce an evolution of the QChord, Suzuki chose to reimagine the Omnichord series: favourite features from earlier models, brought together with new ideas.
New chords and rhythms
For the first time since the 1980s, Suzuki expanded the chord palette from 84 chords to 108, adding Sus4 and Add9. Rather than the fuller arrangements heard from the OM-100 through to the QC-1, the OM-108 returns to the timeless OM-27, OM-36 and OM-84 approach to rhythm and accompaniment. Familiar patterns sit alongside a hip-hop trap beat and tasteful disco funk for anyone who is still “Gettin' Jiggy wit It”.
Dual strumplate voices
The OM-108 revives a strumplate feature previously found only on the OM-84: Dual Strumplate Voice. OM-84 owners could blend straight and modulated voices—a clever way to add colour to the strumplate. The OM-108 offers a range of Main and Sub voices, including the original OM-84 tones, while its Omnichord voicing uses true analogue circuitry: quite an achievement in 2024.
The shape of things to come
Suzuki teased the OM-108's shape for a year. It is slightly smaller and lighter than previous models, making it more travel-friendly and easier to handle on a gig. The layout is similar to the OM-84, but the strumplate is wider and sensitive across its full surface.
Specifications
| OM-108 | |
| SonicStrings Strumplate | Main Voice: Omnichord 1,
Omnichord 2, Harp,
Celeste, Acoustic Piano Guitar, FM Piano, Organ, Vibes, Banjo Sub Voice: Omnichord (+ vibrato), Mellow Synth. Synth. Strings, Orch. Strings |
| Strumplate Range | Four Octaves |
| Chord Buttons | 38 soft touch buttons, 108 chords (Ma, Min, 7th, Maj 7th, Min 7th, Aug., Dim., Sus4., Add9. |
| Keyboards | C to G (19 Keys). Range: Three Octaves (selectable) |
| Chord Transpose | 1 Octave (6 semitones down and 6 up) |
| Rhythms | Rock I, Rock 2, Slow Rock, Country, Swing, Disco, Hip Hop, Funk, Bossanova, Waltz |
| Rotary Controls | Master Volume, Chord Volume, Main Voice Volume, Sub Voice Volume, Sustain, Rhythm Volume, Tempo |
| Switch Buttons | Power, Chord, KEYBOARD ON/OFF, Voice Select,
Rhythm Select, Chord-Manual/Auto, Chord Hold, Rhythm-Start /
Sync Start Other Functions: Instant OFF, Transpose, Octave Shift, ON/OFF SPEAKER, Master Tuning |
| Tuning | +6/-6 |
| Jack | DC inlet, LINE OUT (monaural standard), headphone output (Stereo mini), MIDI OUT |
| Speaker | 10cm round |
| Body Colour | |
| Power | AC adapter, 8 AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries
(all sold separately). Power consumption: 3.7W Continuous battery operation time: Approximately 8 hours |
| Output | 4.3W |
| Net Weight | 1.2kg(2.65lb) |
| Dimensions | W: 45.7 x D: 25.0 x H: 5.18cm (17.99 x 9.84 x 2.04 in.) |
| Inc. Accessories | Melody keyboard overlay |
Accessories
